$46.6 million to strengthen Australia’s industries

The Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham, has announced $46.6 million for 12 new Research Hubs and Training Centres funded under the Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP).

The funding will support nine Training Centres, worth $37.0 million over five years, under the Industrial Transformation Training Centres scheme; and three Research Hubs, worth $9.6 million over five years, under the Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme.

ARC Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms Leanne Harvey, welcomed the announcement explaining the ITRP is designed to encourage and support university-based researchers and industry to work together to find solutions to a range of issues facing Australian industries.

“The ARC’s ITRP Research Hubs and Training Centres foster collaborative research, bringing researchers and industry together to share their skills and expertise to solve problems and develop new products, processes and services that will transform Australian industries,” said Ms Harvey.

“The Training Centres also strengthen Australia’s research capability and future workforce, by establishing pathways for early-career researchers, including learning opportunities within industry.

“Together, these new Research Hubs and Training Centres will aid in resolving real world issues and strengthening the capability of Australia’s industries. They will undertake research that will advance manufacturing and technology, in areas including fire safety, unmanned aerial vehicles; rail construction and maintenance, wine production and biomedical devices.”

The ITRP offers funding through two schemes:

Industrial Transformation Research Hubs (ITRH)—which provides funding to eligible organisations to engage in cutting-edge research on new technologies and economic, commercial and social transformation, and supports the development of research in the Industrial Transformation Priorities.

Industrial Transformation Training Centres (ITTC)—which fosters close partnerships between university-based researchers and other research end-users to provide innovative Higher Degree by Research and postdoctoral training for the end-user focused research industries vital to Australia’s future.

The Industrial Transformation Priorities identified by the ARC for the ITRP Research Hubs and Training Centres commencing in 2017 are: advanced manufacturing; food and agribusiness; oil, gas and energy resources; mining equipment, technology and services; and medical technologies and pharmaceuticals.